Night had fallen over Profundia, and after an exhausting day of training, I collapsed onto my bed, hoping for a restful sleep. But what awaited me was far more unsettling—and revealing.
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I found myself in a dark and misty landscape where reality blurred into shadows. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the fog—a woman of supernatural beauty, with ebony-black hair contrasting against her glowing red eyes. Her stance was aristocratic, radiating a blend of danger and elegance that left me breathless.
“Where am I?” I murmured, trying to make sense of this strange place.
“Do not be afraid,” said the woman, her soft but firm voice resonating in the darkness. “I won’t harm you.”
“Who are you?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly. I felt a mix of fascination and fear at her presence.
“Who are you?” she replied, fixing her gaze on me. “I feel a strange connection to you—as though I have an innate need to protect you.”
“Protect me…from what?” My confusion grew, along with my curiosity.
Before she could answer, a dark shadow lunged at me, an amorphous threat that forced me to stumble back. But the woman moved with supernatural speed, positioning herself between the shadow and me. Her hands darkened, infused with an energy I recognized as shadow-attribute mana.
“Back off!” she commanded, unleashing a strike with her darkened claws that shattered the shadow into a thousand pieces. I gaped in awe at her power and the ease with which she destroyed the threat.
“Why are you protecting me?” I asked, still processing what I had just witnessed.
“I don’t know,” she answered, her expression as puzzled as mine. “It felt instinctive, like I couldn’t allow anything to harm you.”
There was a strange comfort in her words, but before I could respond, the dream began to fade.
“Remember my words,” she said as her figure began to dissolve. “We’ll meet again soon. And when we do…”
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I woke up with a start, my heart pounding. The dream had been so vivid that I could still feel the woman’s presence beside me. I got up and went to the bathroom to wash my face, trying to shake off the surreal feeling that clung to me. I went down to the kitchen, where my mother, Lysa, was already preparing breakfast.
“Good morning, Son,” she said, noticing my expression. “Is something bothering you?”
“I had a dream,” I said, sitting at the table. “A very real dream.”
“Tell me about it,” Lysa said, serving me a portion of bread and fruit.
I described the woman and everything that happened in the dream. Lysa listened attentively, her expression growing increasingly serious.
“Interesting,” Lysa murmured. “It could be a vision, or some kind of premonition. But without more details, it’s hard to say.”
After finishing breakfast, Lysa took me to the house library. “Today, I’m going to teach you to inscribe defensive runes,” she said firmly. “It’s time for you to learn better ways to protect yourself.”
I nodded and followed her, trying to process the dream while practicing rune inscriptions on parchments. We spent hours practicing and writing, and though I learned a lot, I couldn’t stop thinking about the woman and her message.
“Mother,” I finally said, “do you think my dream has any meaning?”
Lysa looked at me with a mix of pride and concern. “It’s possible, Kaion. In this world, dreams are often more than mere visions. They can be warnings, premonitions, or even messages from powerful entities. Keep your eyes open and your heart alert. Time will reveal the truth.”
The next day, my mind continued turning over the dream. Who was this woman? Why did I feel such a strong connection to her? While eating breakfast, I couldn’t help but bring up the dream with my mother once more.
“Mother,” I began, “I’m still thinking about that dream. That woman…there was something about her that felt so…incredible.”
Lysa looked at me with interest. “Describe her to me again, Kaion.”
I focused on recalling every detail: “She had black hair and red eyes. Her presence was elegant and powerful, like she feared nothing. She protected me without hesitation, with a determination that seemed to come from deep within her.”
Lysa nodded slowly, reflecting on my words. “It’s strange. Such deep connections in dreams aren’t common. It could be a manifestation of something yet to come.”
I nodded, still trying to process the dream. In the courtyard, Lysa turned to me with a serious expression. “Let’s manifest these rune tracings. The defensive spells I’ll teach you are ancient and powerful, used by our ancestors. They require precision and focus.”
image [https://i.postimg.cc/hPF4hgHt/Whats-App-Image-2024-06-30-at-00-37-48.jpg]
She showed me how to draw the runes in the air with fluid movements, leaving a trail of luminous energy. Each rune had its own purpose and power. She taught me the first one, the Protection Rune, a basic spell that creates an invisible barrier to deflect attacks.
“Try it,” she said, guiding me through the movements.
I took a deep breath, concentrating on tracing the rune. I felt the energy flow through my fingers, forming a barrier around me. “It works!” I exclaimed, surprised by the spell’s effectiveness.
Lysa smiled approvingly. “Very good. Now, try the Repercussion Rune. This one not only protects you, but it also reflects part of the damage back to the attacker.”
I went over the movements, more complicated this time, and managed to conjure the rune with some effort. I felt a vibration in the air as the barrier formed, ready to return any damage received.
“Excellent, Son,” Lysa said. “You’re a quick learner. Now, the Pacification Rune. This will reduce the power of attacks that reach you or calm creatures in an aggressive state, depending on your intention.”
It took me a couple of tries, but I finally managed to conjure it. The barrier felt gentler, like a calming breeze.
“This is the Grand Shield,” she explained, tracing a complex rune that glowed brightly before forming a protective barrier in front of us. “This shield will protect you from direct attacks.”
I tried to replicate her movement, focusing on each line and curve of the rune. At first, my attempts were clumsy, and the shields I created were weak and unstable. But with Lysa’s patient guidance, my strokes grew steadier and more confident.
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“Excellent, Kaion,” Lysa said when I finally managed to form a solid shield. “Now we’ll add another layer of protection. This is the Bastion spell.”
She showed me how to trace a different, more intricate rune that surrounded the initial shield with an additional barrier. “The Bastion strengthens your defense, making it harder to break through.”
“What about situations where I’m surrounded?” I asked, eager to learn more.
Lysa smiled. “For that, we have Trench. This spell creates a circular barrier around you, protecting you from all angles.”
I practiced repeatedly, tracing the runes in the air until I could conjure each spell with ease. The sense of security these spells provided was comforting, and I knew they’d be invaluable in the future.
“How can these spells be so powerful?” I asked, intrigued.
“They’re ancient spells, created to protect and preserve,” Lysa explained. “The Graves were great guardians. It’s essential you learn to use them properly. Over time, you’ll be able to combine them and create impenetrable defenses.”
We spent hours practicing, increasingly immersed in the art of rune tracing and the flow of energy.
Finally, after intense training, Lysa patted me on the shoulder. “You’ve done well today, Kaion. Now, rest a bit and reflect on what you’ve learned.”
Her words echoed in my mind. I knew I needed to be prepared for whatever destiny had in store for me. With the defensive spells learned, I felt a bit more ready to face the future. But the mystery of the woman in my dreams remained an enigma I needed to solve.
After lunch, Mom gave me the rest of the day off to rest. She assured me that my mana reserves would increase the more I practiced the breathing technique daily. After a kiss on my forehead, she left for the council to fulfill her duties. Taking advantage of the freedom, I decided to head to Triumph Hill. Maybe I could hunt a moth or weak monster to sell to the shop elder for some extra coin.
When I arrived, the hill was filled with village children. I walked among them, searching for any sign of a moth, when a group of boys approached with mocking smiles.
“Look who’s here!” said Finn, a tall boy with messy blonde hair. “The white-haired specter.”
I didn’t bother responding to their taunts; my thirty-year-old mind was immune to such childish jabs. However, before I could walk away, Nara intervened.
“Leave him alone, Finn!” she said firmly, stepping in front of me.
The group of boys turned to her, their sneers turning more disdainful.
“And who do you think you are?” asked Jarek, a stocky boy. “The sister of the loser who got beaten by Aria?”
The mention of her brother and Aria filled Nara’s eyes with fury. I saw her tense up and knew things were about to get serious.
“This won’t go unanswered,” Nara said, her voice trembling but resolute. “I challenge you to a duel!”
The boys laughed but accepted the challenge without hesitation. The two boys who stepped forward were famous in the village: Finn, the tall blonde, and Jarek, always arrogant. Both were warrior apprentices and had just begun using battle aura, but that didn’t make them any less intimidating.
“Are you sure?” I asked Nara, my eyes shining with determination.
“More than sure,” Nara replied, her voice reflecting anger behind her mask as she clenched her fists.
“I’m in too,” I said, looking at her with determination. “Let’s teach them a lesson.”
The duel began with unexpected speed. Finn lunged at me, trying to knock me down, but I was faster. I used my breathing technique, feeling the mana flow through my body. Dodging the attack, I countered with a mana shot that unbalanced my opponent.
“Grand Shield!” I shouted, invoking a protective barrier around Nara and me, blocking the initial attacks.
Meanwhile, Nara faced Jarek, showing impressive agility. She moved with precision, dodging and striking with a strength that left no doubt about her determination. We fought in perfect sync, complementing each other with every move.
“Kaion, I’ll use my earth Qi skills to immobilize them,” Nara told me, her feet glowing with a brownish energy.
“Perfect, I’ll keep them at bay with my defensive and offensive spells,” I replied, preparing to cast my next spell.
I used my Magic Eyes to foresee our opponents’ movements, enhancing my aim and anticipating their attacks. My mana shots were precise, knocking down our adversaries to keep them at bay.
“Don’t fall behind, Nara!” I shouted, blocking a blow with the Grand Shield and launching another mana shot that struck Finn and pushed him back.
“Never!” Nara replied, knocking Jarek down with a quick, precise twist.
Nara struck the ground hard, and stakes of earth immediately emerged, trapping Finn and Jarek’s legs. I seized the opportunity to cast a protective rune around Nara and myself, enhancing our defenses.
“Cheaters!” they shouted in unison, unable to move, though they fought unarmed, their battle aura made them living weapons.
“Protection Rune!” I shouted, feeling the power flow through my fingers as I traced the symbol in the air.
The boys struggled to break free, but the barrier and the earth stakes held them back. Nara and I exchanged a glance, knowing we had the advantage.
“It’s over,” Nara said with a triumphant smile. “Kaion, let’s give them the final blow!”
I nodded, concentrating my energy on a single point. I couldn’t use my enhanced mana shot—it was too dangerous for this type of match. Instead, I used my support abilities to strengthen Nara.
“Pacification!” I cast, reducing the strength of our opponents’ attacks and allowing Nara to move more freely.
Nara took advantage of the boost, lunging toward Finn and Jarek with impressive speed. Her strikes were precise, and the earth energy emanating from her was formidable.
“They don’t stand a chance!” Nara shouted as she took Jarek down with a powerful blow.
“You arrogant cheater!” Jarek yelled in pain from the ground after being struck.
Seeing his companion down, Finn tried one last rush, but I intercepted him.
“You won’t,” I said as I cast Trench, creating a barrier that blocked his charge and made him retreat.
“I’ll kill you, white-haired specter!” Finn shouted, charging toward me with his battle aura active.
With one last effort, I launched a controlled mana shot that hit Finn on the shoulder, finally knocking him down. The hill fell silent as the boys stood up, defeated and humiliated.
Just when we thought the fight was over, a third boy, Marek—known for always picking on others—joined the battle. Marek was a water Qi user and freed his teammates from Nara’s attack with water shots, destroying the earth stakes and clearing the field.
“This isn’t over,” Marek said with a cruel grin. “It’ll be two against three now.”
Before I could react, Po Dong appeared, descending the hill and transforming into his black bear form.
image [https://i.postimg.cc/ncGhjgKb/Whats-App-Image-2024-06-30-at-00-37-48-1.jpg]
“Cowards!” Po Dong said in his deep voice. “Now it’ll be a fair fight.”
The battle intensified quickly. Marek used his water skills to free Finn and Jarek, and the three of them charged at us with renewed energy.
Po Dong took the lead as our vanguard, engaging Jarek in close combat, while Nara positioned herself at mid-range, using her earth Qi to keep Finn at bay. I assumed the role of support mage, casting defensive and control spells to keep our enemies at bay.
“Po Dong, keep Jarek busy,” I said, quickly tracing a protection rune around him. “Nara and I will handle Finn and Marek.”
Po Dong nodded, charging at Jarek with a mighty roar, activating his battle aura, which shone blue like mana. His attacks were relentless, forcing Jarek to back down since, even with his battle aura active, he couldn’t match the brute strength of the bear therianthrope.
“Nara, use your earth abilities to immobilize Finn,” I shouted, casting a pacification rune toward Marek.
Nara nodded, her eyes shining with determination. She struck the ground, and more stakes rose, trapping Finn’s legs once again. Marek tried to free his teammate using water, but my pacification rune weakened his power, making it less effective.
“Repercussion Rune!” I cast, reflecting part of the damage from our enemies’ attacks back at them.
Marek lunged at me, trying to strike me with a water sphere, but I used my Magic Eyes to anticipate his move. Blocking his weakened attack with my defenses, I countered with a mana shot that forced him back.
“Grand Shield!” I shouted, creating a protective barrier around Nara and me.
Nara took the opportunity, sending a rain of rocks at Finn, hitting him hard. Finn collapsed, unable to keep fighting. Marek, seeing his comrades were down, made a desperate final attack, but Po Dong intercepted him, knocking him down with a powerful blow.
The hill fell silent once again, our enemies kneeling and defeated. The children who had been watching began to cheer, hailing us as the kings of Triumph Hill.
“We did it!” Nara said, with a tone of excitement beneath her mask.
“Yes, we did,” I replied, feeling a mix of relief and pride.
“We’re the kings of Triumph Hill now!” Po Dong exclaimed joyfully, in a childlike tone, approaching to hug me in his bear form out of excitement.
Nara, Po Dong, and I basked in our victory, knowing we had proven once again our ability to face any obstacle with courage and skill. Triumph Hill had witnessed another chapter in my life—a chapter full of excitement, bravery, and friendship.